It was 40 years ago that the bill was passed marking the end of back-street abortions and the beginning of women's right to choose whether or not to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. David Steel's aim was to avoid the deaths and misery arising from illegal terminations, at a time when abortions were only legal if the mother's life was seen to be in danger. In the first full year of the bill coming into force, there were 55,000 abortions in the UK. Today, that figure has risen to 200,000 a year. As the anniversary of the law's introduction approaches this weekend, the debate on abortions continues. Here, we examine where the interested parties stand.

Medical

The British Medical Association, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the Royal College of Nursing all maintain that the upper time limit for abortions should remain at 24 weeks. In its evidence to the Commons committee on science and technology, which is studying the issue, the BMA states that, when the 24-week time limit was agreed a "key argument was that this was the stage at which the foetus was considered viable".

It adds: "It needs to be acknowledged that viability is difficult to define. For example, whether it is understood to mean simply that the foetus is capable of being born alive, or at the other extreme, that it is capable of surviving through childhood with no, or minimal, disabilities."

The BMA said it had based its conclusions on time limits on survival rates and the longer-term health of babies born in the UK. Both the BMA and the RCOG believe that women should not have to obtain the signatures of two doctors to have an early abortion. The RCOG has stated that the requirement for two signatures is "anachronistic" except in complex cases and should be scrapped. The BMA argues that abortion should be available to women in the first trimester on the basis of "informed consent", and without the need for the permission of two doctors.

Church

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, warned last week that the public was in danger of losing its "moral focus" on abortion and suggested that the 24-week limit should be reviewed. "There has been an obvious weakening of the feeling that abortion is a last resort in cases of extreme danger or distress," the archbishop wrote at the weekend. He said that "nearly 200,000 abortions a year in England and Wales tell their own story".

Cardinals from the Catholic church issued an open letter to the British public, urging people to foster an understanding approach to relationships that could dismantle the "conveyer belt" of young women having abortions. The letter, signed by cardinals Cormac Murphy-O'Connor and Keith O'Brien, also noted that the Abortion Act 1967 was intended to solve the problem and dangers of illegal abortion, but that 200,000 abortions took place every year. "There is nothing to stop our society from acting now to foster a new understanding and approach to relationships, responsibility and mutual support," they said. The letter, which reflected a more strategic and less confrontational approach to the abortion debate than was held by the church in the past, conceded that parliament was unlikely to abolish the law.

Government

The Department of Health's submission to the Commons science and technology committee makes clear that it sees no need to reduce the time limits. It stated that parliament's decision, in 1990, to change the upper time limit of abortion, from 28 to 24 weeks, was in line with the view of the main medical and professional bodies. It added: "Our understanding is that the position has not changed - both the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists are not convinced there is currently a need to change the time limits."

The department noted: "Whilst there have been medical advances in caring for premature babies, only a smaller number of babies born under 24 weeks can survive."

Abortion Rights

The pro-choice lobby group Abortion Rights says most people back a reform of the abortion law requiring women to obtain permission from two doctors when seeking a termination. An opinion poll released yesterday found that 52% supported a change in the law to allow for a woman to undergo a termination with either the permission of just one doctor or none at all. The survey, of 1,000 adults, found that 83% supported the right of a woman to request an abortion, with only 13% saying they thought women should not have this right.

Anne Quesney, director of Abortion Rights, has accused anti-abortionists of focusing on the "tiny proportion of abortions taking place in the latest stages" for emotive reasons and for the purpose of misleading public opinion. She said thousands of women's lives had been saved through safe, legal, abortions "but legislation continues to be amongst the most restrictive in Europe and the time has come for that to change".

ProLife Alliance

The submission to the select committee from the ProLife Alliance states: "Abortions continue to be performed at stage in pregnancy when babies are capable of being born alive. Statistics show that in 2006, 3,992 babies were aborted after 20 weeks in England, Wales and Scotland. There is increasing evidence of babies born alive within this gestational range. The PLA maintains its absolute opposition to abortion. We urge the government to commit itself to genuine attempts to reduce the abortions taking place in the UK."